Brinkman Vertical Charcoal Water Smoker Help

[scottie]

Wife and kids just got me a Brinkman Vertical Cabinet type Charcoal Water Smoker with two vents above and below,

The charcoal bowl holds just one chimney of coals.

I haven't figured out the venting to control the temperature,

Any advice on proper use of vents to control heat would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Richtee]

Most of the time you'll leave the top vents open and control the heat with the lowers. Best thing to do is do a dry run, or smoke something inexpensive, like a fatty. Once the coals are going, close down the lowers and keep an eye on it. When the temps drop to about where ya want, crack open the lowers until you maintain the desired heat.

Mess around with it- all smokers are different to some degree. Get to know it and enjoy doing it! :{)

[davidmcg]

Also, make sure you are using a real thermometer, not the one mounted in the door. The factory temp gauge is about 40 degrees off on most of those.

[BrewMasterJosh]

I think Im going to get this one as a secondary smoker. so I can do hot smoke.

[Texas-Hunter]

I think Im going to get this one as a secondary smoker. so I can do hot smoke.

Cant go wrong with one Josh... The ECB is a great starter smoker..

[BrewMasterJosh]

Thanks for the input, gonna go Sat.

[Texas-Hunter]

And the price is always good...

[BrewMasterJosh]

Yes, Wal-Mart has them real cheap. About 60, havent found any much cheaper online.

[Walking Dude]

Cant go wrong with one Josh... The ECB is a great starter smoker..

dont think was they was talking about Ken, was a ECB......one reason I opened up this thread. Its the square cabinet type. They should really get the Brinkman Gourmet smoker, and make my mods. THEN, they would have a smoker.

[smokemania]

You will have alot of fun with this smoker great way to start out

[blues_n_cues]

read this thread.
http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142

thats my box smoker(bnc aka gsg) in the 1st pics.get the charcoal pan mod-you will never have a fire in the stock "bowl".
you can get the basket & lowe's,home depot,or walmart.

i have 2 of them,the double door & single door units & they are great.
i usually run mine around 225-300 like this.

1 top vent open & the lower vents,or 1 just cracked a hair closed after my pit is up to temp-they leak a bit so there is still airflow,especially on windy days.

325-375 i leave 1 lower vent open(opposite side of top vent).
whichever-it's always opposite top & bottom.

these things are thin and tend to expand a bit when hot so wind & outdoor temp varies the way i run them.

have fun w/ it & experiment.

just fyi,you can take the top rack out & do up to a 24# turkey or stick a rod & hook through the top vents & do a hanging brisket or tri-tip or hang sausages.

[blues_n_cues]

dont think was they was talking about Ken, was a ECB......one reason I opened up this thread. Its the square cabinet type. They should really get the Brinkman Gourmet smoker, and make my mods. THEN, they would have a smoker.

pish posh

[BrewMasterJosh]

Ok, so I may have been backwards? Im getting the sqaure one at home depot. This ok for a starter charcoal smoker?

[Walking Dude]

I had a buddy buy one of those......now I am not knocking it for those that use this model. But my buddy couldn't keep temps.

I just bought another Brinkman Gourmet smoker, as my other one rusted out. Had it for 10 years.

This is the one.....

http://www.lowes.com/pd_95542-447-85...758_4294937087_

I like it cause i can take the body offa the bottom to add more charcoal, or shake the ash offa the coals.

I have made many mods to this, to help control temps. Couple of em are stickies.....

http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526

http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527

http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527

I plan on this new one more mods. going to turn it into a cheap WSM.

[BrewMasterJosh]

This may be what I get anyway, by default. Most of Home Depots around here are out of sqaure one.